Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2009-10: The second overall selection in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft (by Moose Jaw), Morgan Rielly skated for the midget AAA Notre Dame Hounds in Saskatchewan. In 43 games he scored 18 goals with 37 assists and had 20 penalty minutes. Rielly scored 7 goals with 2 assists in 13 playoff games for the Hounds.

2010-11: Rielly joined the Moose Jaw Warriors for his first WHL season and was selected to play for Canada at the 2011 U18 World Junior Championship as a 16-year-old. He also skated for Canada Pacific at the U17 World Hockey Challenge. In 65 games for the East Division champion Warriors he scored 6 goals with 22 assists and was minus-15 with 21 penalty minutes. Rielly skated in six playoff games for the Warriors and was minus-3 with 6 assists. He skated in all seven games for Canada at the U18 WJC and scored 2 goals with 1 assist and was minus-3. Canada lost to Russia in the bronze medal game. In six games for Canada Pacific at the World Hockey Challenge he scored 2 goals with 3 assists and 4 penalty minutes.

2011-12: Rielly got off to a fast start for Moose Jaw and appeared to be headed for a big year before suffering a knee injury in the early fall that would keep him out for the rest of the regular season. He scored 3 goals with 15 assists and was plus-6 in 18 games before being injured. Rielly returned for the Warriors' first round playoff series with Regina; skating in all five games and posting 3 assists while finishing minus-1. Rielly was ranked fifth amongst North American Skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft.

2012-13: Rielly signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs in August of 2012. He made his pro hockey debut with Toronto's AHL affiliate in March of 2013 as a 19-year-old after skating for the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors and representing Canada in the 2013 World Junior Championship. Rielly scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was -1 in eight regular season games with the Marlies, who finished first in the North Division and reached the second. Rielly scored 1 goal and was -2 in eight playoff games. Bouncing back from his knee injury the previous season, Rielly scored 12 goals with 42 assists in 60 games with Moose Jaw and was -8 with 19 penalty minutes. The Warriors missed the WHL playoffs; finishing fourth in the East Division. Rielly scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was -2 with 2 penalty minutes in six games at the WJC. Canada lost to Russia in overtime in the bronze medal game.

Talent Analysis

Rielly was the top offensive defenseman in the 2012 draft class, and one of the WHL’s top defensemen in 2013. His skating, passing, and puck skills are all top-notch, and he puts those skills to good use. Rielly has the look of a future power-play quarterback and puck-rushing defenseman. He'll need to work on his defensive game, but that isn't likely to keep him from making an arrival in the NHL sooner rather than later.

Future

Rielly is likely headed back to junior for the 2013-14 season since he is ineligible to play in the AHL. However, a strong NHL training camp could see him snag a spot on the parent club

Photo: Ottawa Senators defenseman Cody Ceci is tied for fourth in scoring by a defenseman at the 2016 IIHF World Championship, posting one goal and four assists in six games for the unbeaten Canadian squad (courtesy of Pavel Bednyakov/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

The next generation of Canadian defensemen.

That’s what they’re saying about the crop of defenders that have come out of the 2012 NHL Draft, and six of those are currently playing for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship in Russia. Read more»

Photo: Defenseman Morgan Rielly has experienced a lot of ups and downs in his first NHL season. Rielly has recorded two goals and 18 assists through 54 games with the Maple Leafs. (courtesy of Abelimages/Getty Images)

Outside of Nazem Kadri and the soon-to-graduate Morgan Rielly, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been void of big-name prospects for a few years. Moreover, they have lacked the prospect depth of most other NHL teams, either as a result of trading picks or players not yet meeting their potential.

Photo: Speedy forward Jerry D’Amigo is one of many prospects to have been recalled by the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. The 22-year-old is currently in his fourth season of professional hockey. (courtesy of Keith Hamilton/Icon SMI)

With a consistent push of drafted prospects graduating to the American Hockey League this past summer, the Toronto Maple Leafs farm team has seen an overhaul to its core and is sporting a more youthful look.

Photo: Forward Spencer Abbott has been a standout for the Toronto Marlies, the AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Abbott is in his second full season of professional hockey. (courtesy of Abelimages/Getty Images)

The Toronto Maple Leafs strong start can be attributed to the depth they have accumulated over previous seasons. Under general manager Dave Nonis, the Maple Leafs continue to foster the development of their youth in hopes they will one day become NHL players.

Photo: Now in his fourth season of junior hockey, Matt Finn is expected to be a leader for the Guelph Storm on and off the ice. (courtesy of Terry Wilson/OHL Images)

The AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Marlies, are expected to ice a very youthful lineup for the 2013-14 season, comprised mostly of players aged 23 and under. The Marlies will welcome eight players who make their rookie debuts in the AHL.